342 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
pressions of admiration from every traveller in the country 
since it was discovered. But in order to give a clear idea of 
it, we will speak of it in detail. The intense heat of summer 
begins in the month of June, when every leaf of herbage south 
of Monterey is dried to a cinder. The fogs generally moisten 
the coast to the north, and keep it green. 
On the coast south of Monterey, the thermometer some¬ 
times rises to 108° or 110° Fahrenheit, in still summer wea¬ 
ther ; but usually the sea-breezes keep it down to 70° and 
75°. North of Monterey, the fogs always accompany the 
hottest weather, and modify its temperature. 
Some few points on this coast are visited by disagreeable 
sea winds. But these places are small and few in number. 
And yet this is doubtless as fine a climate as can be found. 
No causes of disease exist here. 
Agriculture.— The agriculture of Upper California is as 
yet confined to the region lying between the Marine range 
and the sea, and is chiefly carried on by the converted Indians 
at the Missions. And when we inform the reader that the 
mode of cultivation has not changed since the first settlement 
of the country, its rude and unskilful character will be easily 
understood. A few statements, however, may make it more 
manifest. When a field is brought under the plough, it is 
planted with the same crop, as oats, or wheat, &c., until it is 
exhausted ; and then permitted to lie waste, until it acquires 
the power to produce the same crop again. Alternation of 
crops is deemed a heresy always to be avoided. 
The grains raised in the Californias, are maize (Indian 
corn), oats, wheat, and barley. Peas, and a small bean called 
frixole , are also cultivated. Maize is the staple bread corn 
of the country. It is cultivated in drills, and, even with the 
little skill used in raising it, produces abundantly. Wheat is 
sown broad-cast as with us; and, strange to tell, such is the 
loose and rich quality of the soil, that the seed which falls at 
the harvesting of the first crop, yields without the aid of 
plough or harrow two-thirds of a crop the second season, and 
